Switch



A. C. GERBER SWITCH Filed Dec 26, 1923 ii-iuz iNVENTOR 17/ 1/2122))" CZGerbevf I ATTORN 5Y3;

Patented Dec 9, 1924.

. 1,519.a2e PATENT omen.

ARTHUR C. GERBER, 0F BENTON, WASHINGTON.

SWITCH.

Application filed December 28, 1923. Serial Ho. 682,779.

To all whom itmag concern: 7

Be it known that-1, Anrrirn C. (human, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Benton, county of King, State oflVashington. have invented a new and useful Switch, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in switches. and has particular refer ence toa switch designed to he used in connection with a motor vehicle for the purpose of sounding the horn of the same. It is proposed to provide a switch of the character described that may be conveniently manipulated by. the driver of the motor vehicle without necessitating his taking the hands off the steering wheel.

It is particularly proposed to provide as an operating element of the switch a wheel preferably of somewhat smaller dimensions than the steering wheel and disposed preferably on top of the same in concentric relation therewith, and to connect this operating wheel with the switch mechanism in such a manner that a contact is closed whenever any portion of the wheel is depressed by means of the thumb of the hand resting on the steering wheel. For this purpose a switch has been designed in which a contact is closed whenever :1 preferably disk-shaped element operatiyely connected with the wheel previously referred to is tilted at any point desired so that the switch may be actuated by the thumb of the hand resting on the steering wheel regardless of the position of the hand on the latter. Further objects and advantages of my device will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. in which Figure 1 shows-my device attached to the top of the steering arrangement of a motor vehicle, Figure 2 a vertical section through my switch, Figure 3 a horizontal section taken along line 33 of Figure 2, and Figure 4 a horizontal section taken along line 4-4 of Figure While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, I wish to have it understood that variouschanges or modifications may be-made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of ing wheel arrangement preferably extending above the steerrng wheel as shown in Figure 1.- My switch mechanism comprising a cage (2) with an internal flange at one end is shown as being partly inserted in the upper end of the tubular member (1) with a set screw (4) or any other suitable means holding the same in place.

The switch mechanism itself is fixed on a plug (6) adapted to be threaded into the cage (2) from the lower end and comprises in its principal features a disk (7) of insulating material having a plurality'of contacts (8) secured therein, which latter contacts are preferably symmetrically grouped around the axisof the cage at a suitable distance therefrom. The contacts are interconnected by means of metal strips (9) so that the wire (10) directly connected to one of them as shown at (11) is in electrical connection with all of them. 4

Two crossing leaf springs (12) are secured to the upper .faceof the disk (7) in such a manner that the four arms of the two spring leaves extend over the four contacts (8) and are adapted to be forced into contact with the same when any one of the sliding mem bers (13) mounted in the two plates (14) and (16) and normally forced upward leaves (12) and the sliding members (13) in the manner'shown in the drawing. The plates (14) and (16), the disk (7) of insulating material and the plug (6) are held in spaced relation relative to one another by means of tubular spacing members (15) surrounding the bolts (18) andextending through the whole arrangement.

When the mechanism is introduced into the cage, it will be noted from Figure 2 that a space is left between the internal flange (3) of the cage and the top member of. the switch mechanism and that v the sliding members (13) extend into this space.

On top of the sliding members is provided,

a disk (22) which rests loosely on the sliding members,'the space provided tor the same being sufficiently large to allow of'a limited amount of tilting motion. The disk has secured. thereon the hub or central portionof the Wheel (28), which latter is of considerably larger diameter than the cage (2) and is within reach of the thumb of the driver While the hand holds the steerwheel.

in. lt will be readily seen that when any portion of the wheel (23) is depressed by means of the'thumb, at least one of t e slidin members (13): will be depresse where y two contact elements are forced into e agement and establish an electrical connection between the two wires (10) and (17), which latter are part of a circuit operatin a horn or any other alarm device.

The advantages of my device will readily appear from the foregoin description. .The driver may. firmly hole the steering wheel with both hands and sound the alarm by merely extending one of his thumbs and depressing a marginal portion of the Wheel (23), whereby it makes no difference wher his hand happens to be situated.

I claim:

1. A switch comprising a cylindrical cage having an internal flange at one 'end, a

switch mechanism adapted to be introduced from the other end having a plurality of interconnected stationary contact members grou ed around the axis of the cage andan equa plurality of interconnected movable contact members rouped correspondingly, a plurality of sli'ing members adaptkd to force the movable contact members upon the stationary contact members extending outside of the mechanism and an element inthe axis 0 the on c with slidin of interconnected movable contact members grouped correspondingly, a plurality of sliding members adapted to force the movable contact members upon the stationary contact members extending outside of the mechanism and an element interposed between the mechanism and the flange of the cage with limited freedom of tilting motion adaptedto force two registering contacts into engagement When any marginal portion of the element is depressed.

3. A switch comprising a cylindrical cage having an internal flange at one end, a-

switeh mechanism fixed to a plug adapted to be threaded into the other end of the cage ha in sets of contacts grouped around members extending outside t e mechanism or operating a contact of each set, and an element interposed between the mechanism and the flange of the cage with limited freedom of tiltin motion adapted to actuate a.sliding mem r when any marginal portion of the element is do ressed.

KRTHUR C. GERBER. 

